Paul George Says Losing Pieces in James Harden Trade Eventually Hurt Clippers

Los Angeles posted its best regular-season record since 2017 but flopped in the playoffs.

May 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) drives to the basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter during Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Even by the Los Angeles Clippers' risk-taking standards, their trade for Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden on Nov. 1 was a big swing.

To get a player said to have agitated for three trades in three calendar years, the Clippers gave up four players, two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks, and cash. The result: another first-round exit despite the team's best record since 2017.

On Wednesday's edition of his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, Los Angeles forward Paul George raised eyebrows by suggesting the Harden trade hurt the Clippers—singling out two players Los Angeles could've used down the stretch.

"We traded to get James, and it’s not James’s fault of why we struggled, but the lost part of that was we lost (forward Robert Covington), we lost (forward Nicolas Batum)," George said. "Those was our glue guys. Those was our defenders."

Paul George says losing Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum really hurt the Clippers:

“We started the year off hot. Everybody was playing well, there was the energy there. It was kinda like the first time of us all being healthy with Russ now. It was the emergence of what it’s… pic.twitter.com/XzTdYkx0J3

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) June 19, 2024

Without Covington and Batum, George insinuated, the Clippers lost some of their defensive identity—and were unable to capitalize on a 34-15 start to the season.

"It had nothing to do with grabbing James, it was more so losing those guys—(forward) KJ Martin as well. Losing those guys kinda hurt us."